Dwyane Wade’s buyout approaches

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be well on their way to signing Dwyane Wade, who seems to be inching towards a buyout with the Chicago Bulls.

Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls seem to be inching towards their divorce. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls executive vice president John Paxon spoke on “The Mully and Hanley” show on WSCR-670 AM and said he has engaged with Wade’s representatives regarding a buyout.

"“Some dialogue is going on,” Paxson said on The Score. “We understand where (Wade) is at this time of his career. We’re more than willing to work with him. But as I said … we have to always do what’s in our best interest. So there has to be something that is mutually agreed upon.”"

Paxon’s general sentiment can be assumed to be that the organization will buyout Wade’s contract if he gives up a large chunk of the $24 million he’s expected to make this season.

Luckily for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that will have significant interest in a player whose a living legend in the league, while Wade has expressed pleasure with his current earnings (who wouldn’t?), he has also expressed a willingness to chase championships in the twilight of his career.

In any case, Wade (a three-time NBA champion) would rather be competing for championships than babysitting young pups during a Bulls rebuild.

According to Johnson:

"“Wade, who turns 36 in January, also said he would rather be competing for championships at this stage of his career. And he wouldn’t address the Butler trade or answer whether he would be comfortable staying with the Bulls in a mentoring role.”"

Those combined factors should lead to Wade’s buyout. Wade has earned $176 million in his basketball career and it’s certainly possible that he would be willing to leave a significant portion of his current salary on the table to sign with a championship contender.

Currently, the Cavs are the only championship contender that Wade appears to have real interest in. Playing beside LeBron James for the first time since James’ return to Cleveland, Wade will be in James’ Kingdom in the same way James was in “Wade County”. With the Heat, James won his first two NBA championships and with Wade’s help this season, they could both win their fourth.

Though there was a report that Wade would start if signed, he’d be able to excel in any role whether he’s a starter or on the bench. That’s especially true for the time frame that Isaiah Thomas is out of the lineup, as the Cavs could certainly use Wade’s scoring in playmaking ability with their All-Star point guard on the court.

Last season, Wade averaged 18.3 points and 3.8 assists per game in an ill-conceived Bulls offense that lacked both spacing and sheer talent.

Wade, whose scoring ability relies on his in-game experience, rhythm and acrobatics more than athleticism, would fit next to Thomas, Derrick Rose, J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver or Iman Shumpert in the backcourt. That gives the Cleveland Cavaliers plenty of lineup options with Wade and one that could see him share the court with Thomas, Rose, James and Kevin Love in the Cavs’ own version of a Death Lineup. In short bursts, that lineup could even hold its own defensively.

To that point, Wade is still capable of making game-changing plays on defense although he seems to lack the effort necessary to go all-out on that end (unless he was sent out in short bursts that wouldn’t help him establish a rhythm). With that Catch 22, Wade is certainly a signing the Cavs would make with the offense in mind more than the other end of the floor.

Wade’s on-court chemistry with James will also be important. However, the locker room chemistry will be even more important thanks to Kyrie Irving’s departure and the void in his wake.

Irving had a big personality that Wade can match. His synergy with James and relatability to Korver, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Jeff Green, a group of players near his age, some with wives and families, will also be beneficial to the overall atmosphere of the locker room.

There are very few instances when signing a 12-time All-Star could be a bad idea. This isn’t one of them.

When Wade completes his buyout, the Cavs will be waiting. Cavs fans should be waiting too.

Related Story: What the Cavs should expect from Derrick Rose next season

*Unless otherwise referenced, stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com.